We have continued to adjust as a family of four. I am so thankful for all the blessings we have...especially for our family. We are in an amazing season of blessings and are joyful for each day we are given as we journey through the challenges and treasures of our children.
One of Derick's favorite things to do (aside from Chuck E Cheese) is to take pictures and videos with my cell fone. He loves to take some of Zoe and also of himself. Many family members receive videos of him telling him how much he loves them. It is usually very close up...often of his nose or one eye (as his arms aren't very long to get full face shots) and him saying how he "Loves you all the way up to the stars...not the mountains, as the stars are higher than the mountains." It is so sweet. He often asks me if I love him all the way up to the moon or the starts...always wanting to hear its to the stars since they too are higher than the moon.
Yesterday in the morning I advised him we would be going to Wal-Mart. He was so excited and can hardly contain himself as he loves the motorcycle video game in the fun center (as after Chuck E Cheese is probably his 2nd favorite thing in life). I advised him it would be after breakfast and after Zoe woke up from her nap. She was sleeping in the pack n play setup downstairs and he and I were upstairs. I told him we needed to get dressed...so off he ran to get himself dressed. I was still getting ready about 10 min later when I hear..."Mom she woke up." Knowing it was highly unlikely she had woken herself up so soon, I went downstairs to check out the situation. On my way down I asked Derick if he woke her up and he said..."No..she is still sleeping." Yet I could hear the crying that would counter his statement. I peeked in and could see her blanket pulled off her...something she is not capable of doing...so it was obvious who the culprit was. She continued screaming for quite sometime even after picking her up...you know where the face turns nearly purple as she holds out for air, then belts it out like the world is going to end. I tried to calmly point out to Derick that she has not been feeling well and really needs her rest. I also explained that it would now take us longer to get to Wal-Mart. Awhile later as he sat eating his breakfast, he told me that he would not play his Pac-Man game (probably his 3rd love in life) because he had woken up Zoe. He did kept saying sorry to her as she was crying and I could tell he really did feel bad about it.
Wow...the last couple weeks with Derick were challenging for me. Derick finally started verbalizing his jealousy over his sister and it was heartbreaking to hear. He would tell me not to hold Zoe and just leave her there to cry. He would stand in my way...arms stretched as wide as he could and say "You can't get her...I am blocking you." One day after stepping around him to pick her up, he waited til I turned around then stood on my foot. He stayed there bouncing up and down after several requests that he move, so I advised him one last time to please move or he would get a spank. He refused so I carried through with his little spank and asked him to go to his room until he could be nice. After his initial burst of tears and catching his breath through his cries, he said to me..."You tell me to be nice, but you are not being nice to me!" Yikes...how was I to respond to that one? My 3 year old is putting all this together and turning it back at me!
Thankfully my sweet Derick returned the last couple of days. He has been so thoughtful and kind...the boy I have known until his alter ego showed up these past couple weeks....is back...I hope to stay!
Zoe started smiling a couple weeks ago. It just melts our hearts. She has been a pretty easy going baby and really is pretty mellow just taking in the world around her. In the last few days she seems to have an appreciation for her brother. Instead of being jumpy when he shows his face in fear of being clobbered or slimed with kisses, her face lights up and she smiles. So now he is on a mission to always make her smile. She even coos a little when he sings her Rock a Bye Baby.
I am truly thankful to God that she seems to be a much better sleeper than Derick ever was. She is already sleeping through the night most of the time...a good 6-7 hours, wakes up to eat, then back to sleep for another couple hours. Praise God for that..as I don't know how I would function. That first 6 weeks was rough...waking up every 2-3 hours then trying to get through the day without a nap...as Derick dropped his naps a year ago. When praying for her during my pregnancy, I specifically and adamently requested she be a good sleeper...as Derick never was until he was nearly 3yrs and still has issues. So I am very thankful for that answered prayer. She did have her first cold this past week...quite congested and mild fevers...so had a few rough nights, but seems to be back on track now...just in time for our trip to Kingman today...headed up so she can meet her great grandparents for the first time :)
So I close with the thought as displayed on our family collage above...The love of a Family is life's greatest blessing. What truth that is and I am forever thankful.
